What the Bible says about light and seed

The True Light "In him, (the Lord Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world,…the world didn’t recognize him." John 1:4,9.

The Good Seed and the Weeds “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.”Matthew 13:24,25.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

The New Age Movement - Beginning in the garden of Eden

Post written and posted by Jean-Louis.What is the New Age Movement (NAM for short)? What are its beliefs?

The
NAM does not consist of a single group of people and is not identified
by a single set of beliefs or source book like the Bible. Rather, it is a
network of organizations that are independent and yet bound together by
anti-Biblical religious beliefs. Some of these beliefs are:1. Monism: the belief that everything flows out from one divine energy. All is one. 2. Pantheism: the belief that God is all and all is God, including nature and mankind.3. Reincarnation and Karma: explaining good and evil.4. Universal religion: all religions are just alternate paths to the same goal.5.
Personal transformation: a mystic or psychic experience that will
usually result in a shift from an “old world” belief system to the
realization of the “New Age” belief system.6.
Planetary vision: the belief that the earth possesses a life in and of
itself. New Agers are attempting to realize the notion of a “mother
earth” or “Gaia” whose children are assimilated into a
religio-socio-political consciousness. They believe that a shift of
political power that emphasizes the environment (pollution, acid rain,
etc.) will help bring about this planetary consciousness.7.
New Age eschatology: the belief that a coming world leader or avatar
will usher in the New Age. (For a more thorough study , see Dictionary
of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, George A. Mather and Larry A.
Nichols)In Eccl. 1:9 Solomon stated that, “ There is nothing new under the sun.” The New Age ideas are old, but repackaged in a deceiving look of updated and more sophisticated vocabulary.With
New Age philosophy, Satan is using the same temptation that he used in
the Garden of Eden: the promise of “hidden knowledge” (Gnosticism) that will make
people be “like God”.PRINCIPLE: DO NOT ENTER INTO A DIALOGUE WITH SATAN.• What does God say? In Gen 2:16, “
The Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in
the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” It means that they were alive and immortal before eating of the fruit.

• What does Satan say? In Gen 3:1, first, Satan plants a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind by hissing sweetly, “ Did God really say, “ You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”
Eve should have stopped him right there, rebuked him with the Word of
God like Jesus and run away like Joseph. Then, openly contradicting the
word of God, he asserts in verse 4, ” You will not surely die… for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened.”• Were their eyes closed before? Certainly not.

Then, Satan further states in the same verse, ” You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”• Weren’t they like God already? In which way? Gen 1:27 declares, "So God created man in his own image.”•
Didn´t they already know good? Absolutely! They knew God as Creator,
Father, Provider, Teacher, Master Gardener, to name a few of the ways
God related to them. They knew Him whose “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.” James I: 16.• Did they know evil? No. They had not yet met the father of lies.

So,
before the fall, they saw and knew only the good there was, God their
father, their creator, the person whose nature and character are
absolute, pure and eternal goodness and the source of all that is good
according to Gen 1:31 which says that, “God saw all that he had made and it was very good.”
Consequently, the only knowledge that they could gain or acquire was
that of a deadly and confusing mixture of good and evil. They fell from
the free state of God-consciousness to the state of enslavement that is
Self-consciousness which carried to its extreme logical conclusion leads
to Self-Realization, the state of having and experiencing the fullness
of self in all its ugly rebellion and defiant independence from God and
being like its original, perfect model and example, Satan himself. “The
acorn doesn´t fall far from the tree”!It doesn´t get any clearer than this.Examine the following statementsaboutthe
nature and practice of Kriya Yoga and see if you can find any
similarity with the account of the first temptation in the garden of Eden.

This
is the primary meaning of Kriya. The involuntary movements caused by
the repeated practice of this technique are just the symptoms and
results of a deeper involvement with things forbidden by God.

"The teaching of Kriya Yoga is done
gradually. It is sectioned into six stages referred to as First Kriya, Second
Kriya and so on. The beginner starts with First Kriya. First Kriya is the root,
the very foundation which allows for progress through the spiritual path for
followers of any religion. ( Now, don´t miss this very crucial element of syncretism inherent in Hinduism and present in the apostate ecumenical church [my words added]) It gives access to knowledge of the body, of the
Soul and the chakras. It allows for comprehension of
the gross body, the astral body and the causal body.

Later, after having
practized regularly over a period of time and achieved the necessary demanding
level of mastery, one can receive second Kriya, and thus progress towards the
higher Kriya levels.

Describing Kriya Yoga in words has
little meaning. A person may truly understand only through practice.If you
wish to know what an apple is, a simple description is not enough.Take the
fruit, touch it, taste it, then you will really and immediately understand what
an apple is. The same goes for Kriya Yoga.

The
Ultimate Goal

The constant practice of iswara
pranidhana (practice of breath control in every moment) gives the siddhi
(perfection) of samadhi. The incoming breath is î - power,
outgoing breath is ra - light, sva - yourself, is between these
two. isvara gives life and will fill yourself.

Iswara pranidhana means that by constantly observing the breath which
enters and leaves the body, through practice one will come to the formless
state. Then you remain in the divine light enabling yourself to achieve
constant nirvana or liberation in your life time. As Jesus Christ said
in the Bible: "You can’t see, feel or realize God, but you can be". Another well researched article about the religious nature of Yoga : click on the link below:

Notice
that Satan says: Not if you eat, but when you eat. As if it were
understood that they were going to do it, that it was only a matter of
time. Satan always presents an alluring picture to us, the undeniable
pleasure of sin before we discover the very high price we have to pay
later for disobeying God.

• Was the fruit really good or did it appear pleasing to Eve’s eyes? Gen 3:6.• How did she know that it was desirable for gaining wisdom? Satan told her.All
she knew about the fruit is what Satan told her, and what she could see
with her own eyes. Satan could not give them anything that they didn’t
have before the fall, except the knowledge of evil, the disease of sin,
the curse of the ensuing fall of all mankind and his destructive,
demonic wisdom.He lied to them - but was it a total lie?• What truth was mixed with the lie? • Was it true that they were going to know evil? Yes.

If
we are on Satan’s territory, he defines the terms, the rules. We don’t.
When he says “you will know”, he doesn’t mean “you will have
information about evil, some data to store in your computer memory so
that when you see evil you’ll run away from it.”.

Knowing
evil on Satan’s terms involves participation, just as knowing God
involves participation in His life, His works and the lives of His
people.

Satan meant you will know or experience evil in your mind, soul, and body. And in that he was right and true.

•
What does God say about wisdom? Prov 2:6 declares: “It is He who gives
wisdom.” Wisdom is not just having knowledge of evil, as Satan said.Isaiah 11:2 -3 says this about the Lord Jesus: “And
the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and
understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of
knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of
the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a
decision by what His ears hear.” (NAS)PRINCIPLE: WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURE OF AN IDEA, AN ACTIVITY, STRETCH THE POSSIBILITY OF INVOLVEMENT TO ITS CONCLUSION.There are 2 trees in the beginning: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. • 2 kinds of fruits. One gives life, the other death.• 2 kinds of choices - one right, one wrong• 2 persons: 1. God, our Father who loves us, wants the best for our lives. 2.
Satan, who is a liar from the beginning, and who seeks to steal, kill
and destroy. He wants to take us away from God and His blessings, he
wants to take us out of commission instead of being a part of the Great
Commission.The
New Age fruit that is so desirable is a change in consciousness through
various methods, means, or techniques that will cause one to look at God,
the universe and oneself, in a different way. ( Paradgim shift).Look
at Psalm 1., this psalm gives us the general principle of the
progression in involvement with sin: walking, standing, sitting. In the
case of drugs, it also includes lying down and flying out of one’s mind.

New
Age techniques produce the same effect without the help of drugs and
deceives people into believing that they have had a spiritual encounter
with the source of life. It produces in the adept or devotee a sense of
superior self-righteousness due to a false sense of their own purity as
they compare themselves to the drug addict or drug user or a christian bible believer.

However,
they have fallen into the bigger trap of Satan which has them bound in
their pride which is the first step to anybody’s downfall and
destruction. Look
at Gal 6:7: “ Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps
what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that
nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to the Spirit, from the
Spirit will reap eternal life.”

If
you are asked to accept a new idea or participate in a questionable
activity and have any doubt in your heart that it is right remember
Romans 14:23 which says: “But the man who has doubts is condemned if
he eats, because his eating is not from faith and everything that does
not come from faith is sin.”

As Christians, if we want to know, we can study, and apply the word of life. Deuteronomy 29:29 says: “The secret things belong to the LORD but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”In the beginning there were 2 trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. At the end in Rev 22:2: “on each side of the river stood the tree of life.” In the end there is only one tree, the tree of Life. Only one God, only truth, only the righteous.

When it comes to something seemingly new, we have to ask ourselves 2 questions:1. Where does this come from, what is the source of the information?(The seed, the root)2. Where does it lead? (the branches and the fruit)

•
FIRST STEP: Be informed. Ask your parents, your youth group leader,
your Pastor, an older Christian or anybody spiritually mature enough in
this area who can answer your questions or direct your inquiry to
someone knowledgeable. If you want information, don’t read directly from
the New Age authors. There is plenty of material written on the New Age
and cults by people that have been involved, have come out and given
their testimonies. You can trust the word of a burnt person who tells
you that fire burns.Don’t
assume that you are different, that you know better, that you are
smarter than the next person. Here is a warning to us from Israel’s
history. I Cor 10:1. “(Do not be idolaters…be careful that you don’t fall.)”•
SECOND STEP: Look at the fruit. This is the hardest test of all,
because a lot of New Age people seem to be very calm, peace loving, well
organized, caring individuals who use their personal resources and
energy to promote what they believe are positive changes in themselves,
their environment, and society. These may seem good, but they are done
in ignorance and rebellion against our Creator, who has His own good
plans for bringing peace and light to the world. And they don’t address
the real problem with our world - sin.Remember,
these persons however well intentioned and highly motivated are
deceived. They have allowed themselves to believe the lie of Satan that
“wisdom” is a tool to acquire “god-power”, when such hidden wisdom is
really a trap. Unfortunately, in the eyes of God they are like Eve and
Adam, as responsible for their sin as is their leader or teacher.

In Matt 7:15-20, Jesus warns his disciples with these words: “Beware
of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good
tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil
fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor [can] a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits
you shall know them.” (NKJV)

John
16:1. Right after chapter 14 and 15 about the coming of the Holy Spirit
of truth, abiding in the vine, the inability to do anything without
Him, the command to love each other and to bear fruit, our Lord Jesus
warns: "all this I have told you so that you will not go astray".

Then,
there is the temptation to “be open-minded”, rather than “intolerant”
of these “alternative religions”. Aren’t we supposed to explore and
discover? Here is a good analogy: "Let’s
say you live in a house and it’s summertime. You want to breathe fresh
air, so you open the window. What happens? You get fresh air, but along
with it, you get dust, pollen, and bugs. The proper thing to do is to
put a screen on the window." (Source: heard in a talk given by Greg
Laurie)

The
word of God acts as a screen that rejects all the impurities, corrupt
thoughts, lies, and false teaching that invade our minds, but for that
screen to be effective in our lives, we have to study, understand,
believe, know and practice what the Word of God says in obedience to our
Lord´s command. Psalm 119:9,11: “How can a young man keep his way
pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my
heart that I may not sin against you.”

Finally, It is my prayer that, “Your
love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so
that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and
blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus-Christ, to the glory and praise
of God.” Phil. 1:9-11.

A Christmas Reflection from the Light Seed

This is a Christmas message that I repost every year because of its timelessness. I hope that it will bless you and that the seeds of love, truth, hope and joy planted in your heart by the Lord will flourish as Aaron´s almond rod of authority and service and nourish the hungry and thirsty around us.

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2012 Microsoft Translator from English

Copyright. Droits d'Auteurs. Rediffusion. Direitos Autorais

I claim no right as an author. I didn't create the mind, my brain, my hands, nor any of my senses through which I perceive the world around me. Therefore, I invite anybody if you see any benefit or blessing in the posts, to print, reproduce or distribute the contents of this blog I wrote personally. Jesus said: "Freely you have received, freely give". John the Baptist said: "One can receive only what has been given him from above". I would suggest you ask for spiritual discernment with checking in the Word of God what is right, true, noble, pure, lovely, beneficial as coming from God. I am just offering and sharing free of any restrictions the things that I deem worthy of passing on to any one willing to spend a little time and walk with me along life's highway so we can learn and grow together. Give thanks to and Praise God for the wonderful things he has done.

The Joshua Tree - An original parable/allegory by this blogger.

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God (Genesis 21:33). Here is old Abraham just planting a tree and living by his well. Why are we told this? It is symbolic of what is taking place in his heart and life. The tree immediately brings to mind Psalm 1, which says the man of God will be like a tree planted by rivers of living water, bringing forth its fruit in season. Here is a life that is fruitful, that is concerned about those immediately around and is pouring out blessing into their lives and hearts. Excerpts from Ray Stedman´s devotion: "This Thirsty World" https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/genesis-12to25/this-thirsty-world

Original Love Poems by this Blogger

Excellent Free Bible Software

Now you can download an excellent Bible software on your PC and/or your USB flash drive. It contains easy to navigate and efficient interface, free add-ons modules, Bibles in English, foreign languages, Dictionaries, Commentaries, everything you need to help you study the Bible.

Testimony/Sermon of an Abortion Survivor

SUICIDE WATCH

I am sure most of you have known at some time in your life a person who wanted or attempted to end their life or succeeded in doing so. Personally, I have known a number of such people. I, myself had such an episode as an adolescent.

More and more I am reading and hearing about people young, old, male, female, gender and age don´t matter that add their lives to this problem of epidemic proportion in our society. Whatever the cause, we can all do something however small to save lives.

No need to have a psych. degree or to be licensed. An understanding heart, a listening ear is sometimes all that it takes to help weaker, more sensitive people overcome the hopelessness that drives fellow human beings to discard the gift of human life.

Please, take a few minutes to read below the few examples and testimonies about suicide. And please pass it on, if that´s all you feel inclined to do. Thank you.

HE INVITES SUICIDE JUMPERS FOR A CUP OF TEA

Don Ritchie moved to a house outside Sydney, Australia, for the clifftop view. But soon he was stopping suicides by inviting potential jumpers inside for a cup of tea.

Don Ritchie has been awarded a medal for bravery and an Order of Australia (the nation’s second highest honor) for averting hundreds of would-be suicides by approaching people and offering them a cup of tea. ‘I used to sell kitchen scales and bacon cutters,’ he says. Now, ‘I’m trying to sell people life.’